I fully agree with it. I don't think Nazis are entitled to their opinion if that opinion means that others of a different race or religion are treated as lesser for no reason other than the colour of their skin, which is not a valid reason.

It sh*ts me to tears when I hear twits like Lord Monckton going on about the great climate change conspiracy when he does not have the technical knowlege or education to talk about it, and is merely parrotting the loopier edge of reason. Same with Meryl Dorey.

Yes, they can have their option, but saying that they are entitled to their opinion implies that it the same weight as someone who actually has some expertise in the field in question, and that I do not agree with.

Great article, I especially liked the bit about only being entitled to something that you can argue for.

I get so p*ssed at hearing bullsh*t spouted by people that, when challenged, have no ability or knowledge to defend their point of view and incite some inalienable right to an 'opinion' like that somehow negates all need to justify that opinion.

Next time I come across someone like that - probably soon, I'm going home for christmas - I'm going to tell them that the only opinion they are entitled to is one that they can actually argue and if they can't then I don't want to hear some bullsh*t about how climate change isn't happening, milk is poison and vaccines are a form of government mind control!

My opinion is Bob's opinion. Or Bob's opinion is my opinion. That seems to happen a hell of a lot 'Cause Bob is clever and thoughtful and whatnot. Where as I haven't even had coffee so can't come up with anything more clever to say than "what she said".

You're entitled to have your own opinion. What you're not entitled to is respect for your opinion. That has to be earned by the value of the opinion itself.

And you are not entitled to express your opinion and not have it challenged.

This is what I believe too. I'm willing to respect that people can have an opinion, but I'm not willing to concede that this means their opinion is sacred and must not be challenged.

I guess I interpret the phrase "I'm entitled to my opinion" not in the sense discussed in that article - more that people are entitled to say and think whatever they like. I agree with that. They just don't get to control what other people say and think about what they just said or thought as result. You can't use the opinion line to discredit another opinion - it's not logical and fails as an argument.

By its very definition an opinion is only a view (and there's no such thing as a single view - there is usually more than one according to the definition of that word!). It's as simple at that!

If only it was as simple as that. All too often these offensive/blatantly factually incorrect opinions are not just held, but actively propagated by dingbats who believe they have a God-given right to tell the rest of us what to think.

Sure, people can sit there thinking that non-white people are inferior or women should be kept in the kitchen or vaccination doesn't work, but the second they open their mouth to share that opinion their rights end.

Meh, the article is a waste of space, trying to make an ethical argument out of nothing at all. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, it may not have anything to do with fact:

o·pin·ion /əˈpinyən/Noun

A view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

The beliefs or views of a large number or majority of people about a particular thing.

By its very definition an opinion is only a view (and there's no such thing as a single view - there is usually more than one according to the definition of that word!). It's as simple at that!

In your definition an opinion is a view or judgement FORMED ABOUT SOMETHING, the act of forming an opinion implies that a person must have some basis for that opinion. The article is addressing those individuals who incite the entitlement to an opinion as a form of argument.

Nothing p*sses me off more than someone who tries to circumvent a conversation with 'I'm entitled to my opinion that all red haired men should be forcibly shaved and dyed". Like that is the end of the conversation, I have evoked my entitlement therefore I have won the argument.

Next time I come across someone like that - probably soon, I'm going home for christmas - I'm going to tell them that the only opinion they are entitled to is one that they can actually argue and if they can't then I don't want to hear some bullsh*t about how climate change isn't happening, milk is poison and vaccines are a form of government mind control!

I am going to have a fun christmas!

Can we have a thread on that?

QUOTE (Maybelle @ 18/12/2012, 12:57 PM)

My opinion is Bob's opinion. Or Bob's opinion is my opinion. That seems to happen a hell of a lot 'Cause Bob is clever and thoughtful and whatnot. Where as I haven't even had coffee so can't come up with anything more clever to say than "what she said".

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